Improvement in hydrocarbon-gas machines



UNITED nS'IA'rns `GEORGE W. TINSLEY, OFMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HVDROCARBON-GAS MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent he. [55.774, dated October 6, 187,4 application tiled i Y June lf2, 1874.

To all whom t 'may concerti Be it known that I, GEORGE W. TINsLEY, a resident of the city of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented cer-tain new and useful Improvemen ts in Hydrocarbon-Gras Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front elevation with ometer partially broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the float-box 0,1ever-box r, and cock t. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the cock t. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of can J. Fig. 6 is van enlarged view of the injector-box I and airvalve W. y

The same letters of .reference are, in the several figures, to designate similar parts of the invention. v

The gasometer A B is constructed in the usual manner, except that the seal is retained within anannular space, as shown at Y, Fig. l. The adjustable portion of the gasometer A is held in its correct position as regards the annular space Y by the guide-rod E and guide I). The gasoline-tank C is placed within the gasometer B, that it may be out of the way, and thereby'be less liable to accident. The gasoline-tank C may be filled with gasoline by pouring the required amount of gasoline into the funnel of the supply-pipe g. The standard of the supply-pipe g is made of glass, so that the quantity of gasoline within the tank C may be readily determined. The conduit-pipe h conducts the gasoline from the tank C into thelever-box r, from which it arises up into the float-box O, the iiow of gasoline being regulated by the float-cock t. The cock t, levers, connecting-rod w, and spherical oat are all inclosed within the lever and iioat-boxes r o. (See Fig. 2.) The pipe i admits the iiow of float-boxes r o into .the retort or vaporizer S. The construction of the retort or vaporizer S is new, and has been shown to be particularly efficacious for vaporizing gasoline. The inner and outer walls are eachcomposed of one piece of copper or other suitable material, and are placed as close together as is possible, so

the gasgasoline from the lever and that a very small amount of the gasoline may be spread over a large surface, thereby quickening the production ofv vapor and increasing the temperature thereof, rendering its lightproducing qualities more valuable and fixed. The pipe g connects the retort or vaporizer S with the intermediate can J.

It will be seen by referring to Fig. 5 that the upper end of the pipe g is plugged, outlet to the gas being given by a series of small holes drilled in the outside of said pipe just below the plug. The object of this particular construction is to prevent the flow of gas from carrying condensations or any foreign matter into the gasometer. All condensations from the intermediate can J are returned to the floatcan O by the connecting-pipe A. The piped connects the intermediate can J with the injector-box I. The pipe c conducts all condensations collecting in the injector-box I into the condensation-receiving can H.

In the formation of the injectorVZ, as shown in Fig. 6, it will be seen that an adjustable sleeve, V, is placed on the upper pipe Z. `By means of this device the amount of air necessary to perfect the gas-which has been found to vary, more air being required in summer than in winter-iscontrolled.

The injector takes air through the air-valve W. This valve is an improvement on the balance-valve for the purpose used, it having' a dish-shaped disk for its counter-weight, the

current of air acting on which renders it more sensitive, and consequently more effective. The pipe e conduct-s the perfected gas up into the gasometer A B. All condensations taking place within the gasometer are conveyed by a connecting-pipe into the condensation-receiving can H, which discharges it by a suitable outlet-pipe at the bottom. The pipe a conducts gas to the argand-burner vfw, from which the amount of heat necessary for vaporizing the gasoline is given oft'.

As the consumption of gas will necessarily vary, it becomes necessary to regulate the heat or gas-making supply. To effect this object the counter-bar L of the gasometer A is used, said bar being operated in unison with the gravitatin g portion of the gasometer A by means of a cord and pulleys connecting the two. Upon the lower end of the bar L are two catches, M

PATENT OFFICE.

M', which alternately act upon the countercatches N N' of the shaft R, partially rotating said shaft in either direction as it moves up or down by the motion of the gasometer. Upon the inner end of the shaft R is attached a counter-arm, R', which communicates with the gasvalve of the argand-burner through the valvearm P. A downward movement of the bar L, caused by an increased volume of gas within the gasometer, as shown more fully in Fig. 2, allows the catch M to catch upon the countercateh N', partially rotating the shaft R, and, through the connecting-arms and valve, partially shutting oft' the supply of gas to the argand-burner, allowing only such an amount of gas as would be necessary for a tiny ame, thereby removing the vaporizing power from the retort, the upward movement of the bar L, caused by a decreasing volume of gas within the gasometer, allowing the catch M to catch upon the counter-catch N of the shaft R, and, through the connecting-arms and valve, again turn on the supply of gas to the argand-burner, reproducing the vaporizing power of the retort S. From out the bar L extends an arm, K, having upon its vouter end a rubber pad.

' Should a too rapid formation of gas cause the gravitating portions of the gasometer A to rise up higher than would be consistent with safety, the pad would be carried down by thecounter motion ofthe bar L until it would come in contact with the mouth of the airvalve W, shutting off the supply of air necessary to form gas out of the vaporized gasoline, causing the gravitating portion of the holder to instantly stop in its upward motion.

The operation of my machine is as follows: The tank C having been filled with gasoline or its equivalent, gas is admitted to the argandburner andignited. The stop-cock h' of the pipe h is then opened, admitting the gasoline into the lever and float-boxro. The gasolinehaving obtained the level allowed by the float-cock t, the cock j is opened and the gasoline admitted into theretort or vaporizer S. The light from the argand-burner being turned up to the height required to cause the vaporization of the gasoline within the said retort or vaporizer, the

vaporized gasoline passes through the intermediate can J, where it throws off all condensations or foreign material. From the can J it passes up through the injector I into the gasometer A B, the injector supplying the amount of air sufficient to form the vapor into perfect ed gas. The gasometer being filled sufficiently to cause the required pressure for burning, the gas is admitted to the burners and ignited, the mode of regulatingy the supply being as described.

Your petitioner is aware that other similar devices have been devised for the purpose of making gas out of gasoline, and does not therefore claim the within-described invention, broadly 5 but your petitioner doesnot know or believe that the devices herein described have ever before been known or used.

He therefore claims and wants to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In combination with a gas-machine, the cock t, automatically operated, as described, and the pipes h and 'i and the retort S, all constructed and arranged substantially as above set forth. n

2. The intermediate box J, in combination with the pipe A', the pipe g', and the injector V Z, all constructed as described, and for thei purpose set forth. l

3. The injector Z, having an adjustable sleeve, V, in combination with the air-valve W,prpvided with the dish-faced disk to act as y a counter-weight, and the pipe e, all constructed and arranged as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The regulating-bar L, provided with the stop K and the catches M M', in combination with the air-valve W, catches N N', shaft lt,

and arms It' and P, substantially as herein set4 forth.

GEORGE W. TINSLEY. Witnesses:

F. M. GoMsrocK, .'W. A. ROBERTS. y 

